Dialogos

Emilios Charalambidis on the Importance of Remembering the Past

Published March 1, 2026, 12:01
Emilios Charalambidis on the Importance of Remembering the Past

Director Emilios Charalambidis talks about the production of Thomas Bernhard's 'Before Leaving,' which he is staging at the Satirical Theatre. He explains that the play touches on a society's tolerance of danger and the ease with which Nazism can be normalised. Charalambidis emphasizes the importance of memory to avoid repeating past mistakes, stating that Bernhard was a classic writer who critically viewed Austrian society. The play explores the possibility of returning to disgrace as a means of imposing dominance, while the director draws parallels with the history of Cyprus after 1974, hinting at the concealment of truth and the dissemination of false information. Charalambidis believes that the play resonates particularly well with the current international reality.